wisdome ioyned with magnanimitie hath not onely repulsed the Spaniard and freed that estate from Spanish practises but hath likewise so qualified quieted the desperate condition of that decaied Common-wealth almost past hope of recouerie that he hath thereby aduanced his honour to posteritie in farre greater measure then I am able to set downe I can therefore but wishe all happinesse to himselfe and good successe to his honourable procéedings And now to speake a little of that Ualiance so imputed to the Irish when doe they shew it or where doe they performe it but in a Bogge in a pace or in some other ground of aduantage where they are sure our horsemen shal neither charge nor chace them and where if our footmen doe presse them with good conduct they can retire themselues by their fast footemanship without any danger This is it that maketh them hardy but vppon an equall ground that yeeldeth no other aduantage then the vertue and valiance of him that doth commaunde and where horsemen and footemen may doe their indeuors and be brought to serue the Irish are as timerous as any other nation neither is there a people in any place where I haue bene that will sooner trust to their héeles then they Pill It may be the Irish are the more ready to runne knowing their owne dexteritie and abilitie to performe it but let vs leaue Ireland and speake of Valiance truly what it is as we haue alreadie done with Iustice Experience and Policie and how it is or may bée behouefull for a Generall or Captaine Skill Valiance is a vertue without the which our liues are of small value but the same being destitute of Iustice is hurtfull to the good If Temperance doe not moderate hir she will turne into rage and being not guided by Experience and Skill wil labour out of reason Pill Some will not hold him to be Valiant that is not too venterous and they wil account of him to be but a dastard that is not desperate Skil True Valiance indéed is many times counterseited sometimes for feare of punishment sometimes vpon wrath sometimes vpon ignorance not foreseing pertill wil runne on as a blind man in a daungerous passage Aristotle would in no wise admit that Diomides should be accounted either Valiant or wise for that when the Crakes were put to flight he remained alone and aduentured himselfe against the Force of Hector which he did rather to sake the vaine praise of the people because he would not be accounted a runne away then for the true and soueraigne good wherein consisteth the end of vertue The like hée iudged of Hector himselfe who many times beholding his wife and other women vppon the walles of Troy would more boldly and couragiously aduenture himselfe rather fearing some brute those women might haue raised sounding to his dishonour then otherwise he did respect the Iustice of his cause or the generall good of the City so distressed by the Gréekes Héere is now a matter worthy the noting that Aristotle being but a Heathen would not admitte of this vaine oftentation and as he had not the true knowledge of God so he could not looke into the soueraigntie of vertue with a right respect for those great Philosophers that were accounted the wise men of the worlde who onely but for the winde of the world could despise and contemne the vanities of the worlde they that could weepe when they were borne laugh when they tiâ—d and all that they might appeare to be constant but to whom euen to this vnconstant world Now for those that are better instructed in the knowledge of God they are to aime their actions at an other mark they must looke after the substance not after the shadow they may wel consider that true christian valiance neuer opposeth it self without the feare of God it neuer fighteth for vaine glory nor greedie desire but for equity and iustice for the coÌ„mon generall good it neuer aduentureth rashly or vnaduisedly against reasoÌ„ but with iudgement deepe foresight for courage without conscience is like the Pharises fast and he that wil fight desperatly without Experience may wel be called an angrie foole but neuer a valiant foole Pill I neuer heard a foole reputed to be valiant yet I haue knowne some not greatly ouerburthened with wit that were rash hardy enough but I perceiue y e euerie bold bayard is not valiant how that courage which is forward to danger without iudgement may rather beare the name of lewd hardines then of manlinesse Skill Plutarche maketh the distinction for he saieth that all valiant men are hardie but all hardie men are not valiant as those that wil oppose themselues into perill sometimes without iudgement To conclude he cannot be said to be Valiaunt that is not strengthened by the goodnesse of this cause and fortified againe by his owne skill and knowledge but he that is thus armed he sheweth himselfe resolute and without feare in the middest of the greatest perriles yea in the verie daunger of death it selfe and although he be at any time oppressed with an impossibility of bring victorious yet to shunne and eschew desperation he betaketh himself to patience which so mightily defendeth him y t with great difficultie he may be ouercoÌ„e but neuer coÌ„quered Pill Patience is but a drie plaister but it is a tried medicine for it armeth men to the proofe against al the assaults of Fortune and I thinke that courage which at the point of death it selfe sheweth no discontentment nor signe nor shewe of griefe may well be imputed to constancy and why not to Valiance Skill Those whome Fortune hath throwne downe being spoyled and bereaued of solace and contentment if in extreame desperation they make light account of death there is in them yet a certaine assurance of dastardly Cowardise because they hasten their dying day not so much for shewing their Constancy as for auoyding of miserie as may thus bee expressed In Fortunes high disgrace each wight may death disdaine But he most valiant is that can in wretched state remaine Pill By this now it doth appeare that although Valiance be a speciall ornament for a Captaine yet it marcheth but in the Rereward preferring the other two before him as more woorthy I meane Experience and Policie and I sée it is not ynough for the valiant man to doe what he can but hée must likewise take héede that he attempt nothing but what he ought and therefore without Experience he should runne into many errours and wanting Policy hee should likewise want meanes to execute but I wonder what Souldiers haue to doe with Mercy which you say is required in a Generall I remember the Germanes will needs haue it confirmed that there are thrée notable fooles in the world The first an honest Dice-player the second a mercifull Souldier the third I thinke be a Vintner that will sell wine without water But for a Souldier that must be
forth and beautifled by Vertue and Vertue not beautified and set forth by lynage Skill Yet Noblenesse hath euer bene honored by all men because it standeth with reason that good should spring of good and Vertue is most often succeeding in Noble blood and the worthinesse of honorable ancestors craueth a reuerend regard to be had in their posteritie where he that is but of meane or simple parentage must endure much to aduance his reputation and cannot raise his estimation but with that tediousnesse of time which the Noble by birth shall attaine vnto in a moment and the innovle may be sometimes inticed to Vertue but not by the allurement of Vertue it selfe but are rather prouoked vnto it by dread or by compulsion or sometimes perhaps in hope of preferment and where Vertue is thus darkened with a wauering hope a faint courage it is brought low and but créepeth by the ground where the vertue of true Noblenesse indeed being pure and vndefiled doth swiftly raise it selfe on high and doth with confidence mount vp to the highest heauens Pill I acknowledge that Nobilitie which as on a chiefe pillar is staied vpon Vertue but where that pillar of Vertue is shaken and ouerthrowne there Nobilitie it selfe must likewise fall to the ground And I do further truly confesse that he can do nothing gallantly valiantly or forceably whose minde is not kindeled and inflamed with honourable desire Thus giuing Nobilitie her due I preferre the Noble to be most worthy of this great commaund knowing that the bare tytle is more effectuall to draw a reuerent regard and to enforce a more dutifull obedience in an Army then the largest Commission A Prince may deuise to graunt to him that is but newly crept vp from a meane reputation or a slender account And because I haue here spoken of a Commission here now ariseth a doubt whether it be behouefull for a Prince for the benefit of his owne seruice to prescribe a Commission to his Lieutenant or Generall so tying him within certaine limits that he may not passe the bounds of his commandment whatsoeuer occasion might be taken for the benefit of seruice Skill For the answere of this doubt it is first to be considered that when a Prince will bridle his Generall by such a-Commission it is necessary that he furnish him with all maner of prouisions so aboundantly that he shall not want for otherwise what seruice is to be expected where they are first pinched in theyr prouisions and after bound so fast by their Commissions that they shall not be able to helpe themselues Next it is as behoouefull for that Prince that will tye his Generall to straight limits that he doo likewise very circumspectly instruct and direct him in those seruices he hath to performe which is almost impossible for him to doo for how should men that are ignorant themselues in the affaires of warre prescribe their Generalls what they should do or what they should not doo or how should those that are absent giue prescriptions to him that is and must be in present view and not bereaue him of those aduantages that the varietie of times and occasions may offer Some Princes and States that haue bene suspitious of their Captaines haue brideled them by straight Commissions other some againe that hauing had respect to the dangers of times yet foreseeing the inconueniences that might ensue by ouermuch pairing their Generalls authoritie haue in theyr Commissions left this proviso That they should proceede according to the variety of time and occasions notwithstanding any restraint in them contained Pill But whether a Generall that is thus tyed may not sometime vse his owne discretion vpon occasion as opportunitie may offer Skill The seueritie of Manlius Torquatus might suffice to discourage any man to stand in this conceit who spared not the life of his own sonne but for fighting with an enemie contrary to his commandment notwithstanding he obtained the victorie But the Almighty himselfe preferreth obedience to be better then sacrifice and it is more fit by executing the commandement of a Prince to shew obedience then by exceeding their bounds to shew contempt For this cause the Souldier was worthily commended who hauing already aduanced his weapon to haue taken the life of an enemie that was vnder his mercy whilest his arme was yet lifted vp to haue giuen the deadly stroke the Trumpet sounded a retraite wherewith the Souldier staying his blowe let his enemie thus escape this being espied it was demaunded of him why he let slip so great an aduantage he answered I bolde it farre more honourable to obey my Captaine then to kill mine enemy Pill He that had a compleate Army of such Souldiers might worke wonders but some wil say that when occasion is offered to a Generall for the benefit of his Prince he ought not so â—icely to stand vpon the prescript of his Commission as to neglect the benefit and fortune presented vnto him when there is no Prince so prouident who is able to foresee euery accident that may happen he is therefore to be reputed neither for wise nor valiant that wil stand so much vpon his Commission as to neglect any occasion that may bring aduancement to the honour and profit of his maister Skill It is a daungerous thing for him that shall swarue from the Commaundement of a Prince trusting more to his owne iudgement then in his whom of reason he ought to obey because if his imagination do faile him and his enterprise conclude but with ill successe he runneth into the penaltie of disobedience without any hope of excuse or pardon But admit that his purpose be well effected and brought to a good passe according to his desire he may then thanke his fortune more then his wit and this is all that he hath to trust vnto The Romanes in the prime of their greatnes were not only strict in punishing these offences but they were as seuere to punish with shame and ignomy their Generalls and principall Commaunders without any respect of their greatnes that by shamefull practises had sought to vanquish and by dishonourable meanes had obtained victories vpon their enemies neither could I 〈◊〉 Pius so escape with his drunken conquest but that in stead of a glorious tryumphe which he required he was repaied with a shamefull death and a flaunderous Epitaphe which he deserued Pill But had they not in those dayes the practise of vile and villainous deceit as to bereaue an enemy of his life by poyson or by some sodam stab or stroake with a weapon or to hire a murderer secretly so do some shameful office or executioÌ„ These haue bene the policies of late times and these practises haue bene especially approued Skill By these meanes Fabritius would net win he not only refused a conquest offered vnto him by that traytor Timocliares but he likewise detected and accused his treason to the King his maister neither would Camillus receiue the Schoole-maisters offer though
Honesty is forced to play banckrout and it is but a rude kinde of honesty that restraineth men from doing ill but for feare of a popular report But I cannot altogether blame the carelesnesse of the world in that it is become so sparing of good indeuours when there is neither reward for well doing nor recompence for good desert nor so much as a Memorandum for the most honourable enterprises bow worthily so euer performed vnlesse perhaps a little commendations in a Bal adior if a man be fauored by a Play maker he may sometimes be Canonized on a stage But Uertue thou art driuen into a narrow scantling that haste no better recompence then what thou canst draw from vice it selfe It is no wonder though so fewe do looke out after thee for thou art growne poore and who would follow a begger Skill As the prompt and ready wit imployed in bad purposes is most hurtfull so it is necessary that euery capring wit shadowed with a little pretended care should intermeddle with matters of state nor should busie it selfe in those affaires that should not publikely be brought in question Pill As I am not ignorant that the State nor policy are not to be medled withall by euery man so it is a pitious thing that vnder this prescript Quod supra nos nihil ad nos and for that it is and hath beene a receiued opinion That all truths are not to be spoken that therefore a man must not indeuour his countries good nor speake these truthes that might concerne the glory of God the seruice of a Prince and the benefit of a Common-wealth or whether these prescriptions before spoken of should so restraine a man from doing his dutie to his Soueraigne that he should not informe those abuses committed whether in the Campe or in the Court or because the corruptions of some great personage might thereby be detected his good meaning therefore should not onely bee ill construed but his honest indeuours vtterly disgraced and himselfe reputed a busie bodie that is too forward in meddling with matters so farre aboue his reach Skill The prayse of well doing consisteth chiefly in two points whereof the one is in choosing out an end that our purpose is directed vnto that is good indeede the other she knowledge to finde out apt and meete meanes whereby to bring it to this expected good end thus appointed and intended Now he that pretendeth but to reueale those thinges that may be beneficiall for his Prince or Countrey his purpose is honest and is directed to a very good end and in such a case hee is not to neglect any thing that may tend to so soueraigne a good but is rather to aduenture himselfe for the safetie of either yea although it should fall out to his great reproach Pill Then ten times happy may that Common-wealth be reputed where the eares of the Soueraigne Prince are open to the informations of honest and dutifull subiects not onely in hearing matters that might giue light to his owne affaires but with like gracious regard to heare and consider of she priuate and particular complaints of poore oppressed sutors where Innocency is oppressed by Enuy where simplicitie is intrapped by subtiltie where truth is suppressed by authoritie for a Prince that heareth the complaintes of his wronged subiects is like a Cristall streame wherein all may drinke that are drye Skill If the blessednesse of a Common-wealth doth consist in the clemency of the Prince vnder what Clymat might we séeke for a more happy Regiment then this of our owne natiue soyle what age hath euer affoorded a more princely gouernment then that of our late deceased most gracious and godly Elizabeth whose magnificence filled the world with wonder whose Maiesticall greatnesse was sought vnto by the Princes of forraine Nations who thought themselues best secured when they had entered league and confederacy with her whole greatest enemies did yet admire her heroicall vertues whose royall person was frō time to time protected by the Almightie arme of God from tho traines and traps of Traitors that daily pursued her not for her stanes but for her sinceritie and loue to the pure worship of God they hated her indeede but not for any faultes or offences of her owne but for her zeale to that glorious Gospell that giueth light and life to those that doth embrace it they sought her destruction but not for her abhominations but because shée detested theirs Sée here againe the wonderfull goodnesse of God and his mercie towardes this Realme at that very instant of her Maiesties death when there was nothing looked after but for confusion no hope expected but effusion and shedding of blood See then I say his blessing redoubled a gracious and a mightie Prince established in peace not a sword drawne though the enemies of the glorious Gospell of Christ had then intended the execution of their fury If I should now take vpon mee to expresse the worthinesse of this renowned King thus inthroned by the hand of the Almightie I might imitate the Painters of Greece who taking vpon them the portraiture of Iupiter were euery day mending but could neuer finish it and being demaunded why they had begun what they could not end they answered in that we shewe him to be Iupiter whom euerie one may begin but neuer any man be able to perfect If any man be yet desirous to make a more ample suruey of his vertues let him but reade those lines by himselfe he hath left to posteritie and he shall finde by the excellency of the fruites how much England is made happie by so glorious a free God blesse the stocke and branches altogether and send them long to flourish from generation to generation in the highest-tipe of honour and Princely Maiestie Pill Amen say I and withall humblenesse I beseech it and that God that rules the heartes of Princes put in his royal heart the care and safetie of himselfe for his owne and Englands good God keepe him still from the godlesse and the God maker the Atheist and the Papist the one neuer loueth but in policie the other is still practising for his Pope and it is a hard matter in these dayes to distinguish Humilitie from Flattery their words and smiles are the one so like the other But Captaine Skill you haue already taught me not to meddle with the affaires of Princes and I learnd it long ago by the fable of the Foxe and the Wolfe and although it be but a fable it is yet worth the repeating because there is contained in it good admonition The Foxe and the Wolfe passing by the Lions Denne were desirous to sée what he was doing and the Foxe verie subtilly but a little peeping in told the Wolfe that the Lion was asléepe the Wolfe taking courage to take a better view was no sooner entered but the Lion immediately caught him in his clawes and demaunding of him what was his pretence the Wolfe fearefully made answere
rather for the forces that follow him then for any wit in his head Skill Besides Stragemus that are euerie dap inauated and deuised as occasions doe arise so there are manie preceptes politiquely prescribed that me thinkes in this place wouldr partlie bee remembred because they are behoueful for cuerie Captaine to obserue amongst the rest whether it may stande with policie that those enterprises vndertaken with indiscretion or against reason should escape vnreprooued though they conclude with some good or lucky successe Skill Reason veholdeth some purposed ende whether it directeth euerie action and hee that vndertaketh with Iudgement and discret on if bee bring his affaires to a good and happie successe it will be imputed to his vertue but if to any ill issue it will be attributed to the malice of his fortune and the antiquitie punished nothing with more seueritie then those enterprises attempted against commaundement or vndertaken againste Reason but as they punished those victories that were attained by lewde and foolish hardinesse so misfortune diminished not his reputation that attempted with discretion neither attributing coboardlinesse to ill successe nor Maliance to good fortune Pill A Captaine then ought warilie to examine the ende of his dristes before he giues them course for he that enterpriseth rashlie not considering of the issue shal repent him of his rollie when it is past remedie Skill When a Captaine hath to deale with an enemie whom he knoweth â—o be a man of iudgement and skill so long as he shal find him to proceede in his affaires with reason so long it may be beléeued there is nothing dene extraordinarliy otherwise then with a due course according to IudgemeÌ„t and martiall skill but when attempts are made as it were against the haire and enterprises put in practise that are deuoid of Reason A wise Commaunder in those cases ought to be the more vigilent and wary and to thinke that such offers are neuer made but vpon some hidden purpose Pill To be ouerlight of beliefe argueth a lightnesse of wit and those that are ouermuch creailous may be reputed to be men of the first Impression to make account of an enemy so farre forth as is néedefull is the part of a wise Captaine but so to feare him as to be afraid to encounter him argueth the want of Courage and there is no greater signe to loose then when a man is perswaded not to be able to win Skil To make small account of an enemy is a daungerous matter and many honourable enterprises hath béene entercepted where an enemie hath beene thought so féeble and weake that they haue rather despised him then made any account of ought he could do but a wise Captaine will neuer so lightly regard an enemy for if he be olde his wisedome and Experience is to be feared but if he be rong and therewithall either heady or rash beware of his fortune for according to the olde prouerbe Fortune doth not onely fauour Fooles but is likewise helping to those that bee bolde and hardy And in daungers where there be many eyes to beholde you shall sée some whose hearts are already almost dead yet pricked with shame or intised onely by company they will goe forwardes as it were blindfold and do their dutie Pill Machiuill thinketh it no policie for a Prince to be aduised in his martiall causes by such a Councell as are altogether addicted to warre or too much inclined to peace but miserable is that warre say I where Couetousnesse doth either commaund or giue counsell or hath any interest at all either with Officer or Souldier Skill There is nothing more rather to ouerthrowe an Army then where the Captaine or Souldier are more destrous ofspoyle then careful of honour And couetousnesse is the cause of many great euilles for as it hindereth victory before the fight so againe after the fight it plucketh the glory of an ouerthrow out of the victors hands making him of a Conqueror to become conquered Pill There is not a more pernitious euill then that of Couetousnesse and a couetous wretch as well in the time of peace as in the time of warre is detested and abhorred and by how much he is aduanced to greatnesse either by his owne wealth or by authoritie by so much the more hee is cursed by the people and vengeance daily denounced against him by as many as hath to deale with him Skill Conetousnesse is the Curre that deuoureth his owne Acteon the Ball of Hipomines to hinder the course of Atlanta the Charibdis that swalloweth vp al honest meanes whereby the multitude should maintaine life The Scraping Brier that scratcheth the wooll from the silly Shéepe when it commeth but to seeke shelter the Canker that fretteth the Common-wealth eating and deuouring the gettings of the poore It is Couetousnesse that poisoneth the eares of Princes and teacheth them to neglect and set aside all iust and honourable dealing It is Couetousnesse that holdeth nothing vnlawfull that bringeth in gaine It is Couetousnesse that maketh no conscience in gathering of Golde nor in spilling of bloud Pill It is Couetousnesse that was neuer cherished by vertue nor beloued of God and as Couetousnesse is a most hatefull vice in him that should commaund an Army so I cannot admit of him that from a bare and néedie estate should be aduanced to that dignitie of a Generall because his pouertie would be a spurre to pricke him forwardes to exact from those that Nobilitie inuested with Honour would otherwise cherish and maintaine though to his owne expence Skill Here is yet to bée remembred how much digressing from martiall Policie for a Prince to affyâ— himselfe on such confedcrates as are dull and flow in helping or to seeke assisttance from friendes that are farre off who by reason of the distance of place cannot giue such speedy succours as necessitie may require And no lesse daungerous againe to be serued by Souldiers that are to encounter with an enemie who is like wise serued with Souldiers of the same Nation considering how hard a matter it is to bring Souldiers of one Nation so any incounter the one against the other Pill We should not neede to looke out farre for presidents for he that hath beene well acquainted with the seruices of Ireland will quickly set downe probatum est Skill But that expertence is better in a medicine then in a malady Pill And it is strange to see how many water-casting Phisitians hath taken vpon them to looke into the diseased estate of that Realme of Ireland and how they haue pretendes not onely to knowe the nature of the sicknesse it selfe that doth oppresse it but also from whence the cause hath had proceeding and how it might be cured And be that hath beene in Ireland and but of one months continuance in the Countrey would set downe precepts of reformation and prescribe plats and meanes how the people might haue beene reduced to a dutifull and louing obedience But plat what and how they
as the pay that hath bene thus spent might haue bene a great deale better spared so there is nothing more hurtful to the procéedings of Warre then too much miserie and pinching where the spending of mony and but in necessary sort shall be more respected then either the losse of honour or the hazard of a Kingdome Pill And it might be tearmed to be but a thréed-bare War where besides an ordinarie pay there is not likewise an extraordinary recompence whereby to gratifie desert Skill Where well doing is not regarded there dutie is many times neglected and although the law doe inforce some and necessitie prick forwards others to the seruice of their countrie yet Rewarde and Recompence are more effectuall to induce a noble courage then any other meane for men hardly entertaine hazard where there is no hope and great mindes that wil aspire to great aduentures must be recompenced with great rewardes But would you haue examples how good desert hath bene aduaÌ„ced looke into the holy scriptures sée the noble Caleb promised his reward by Gods owne mouth for his great courage and constancie amongst the children of Israel and Caleb himselfe bestowed his faire daughter Achsah vpon Othniell his brothers sonne for taking the Citie Cariath Dauid in like maner receiued great riches of Saul for killing Goliath but the Romanes amongst the rest to stirre vp mens mindes to martiall prowes besides bountifull and liberall rewardes they inuented glorious triumphes whereby he that deserued Fame might for euer after be eternized In those daies honours and the highest places were rewards for valiant men and good desert was recompenced with great preferment now there is no reward but for villanie for betraying of a Towne for poisoning of a Prince for practising of treason or for some other like conspiracie Now for him that liues within the compasse of an honest life they think his wit wil afforde him no better as there is no reward for the couragious so there is no punishmeÌ„t for y e coward In diebus illis after victories obtained troubles ouer-past then began the Souldiers glorie for then good deserts were euer recompenced so that the end of the war was the beginning of the souldiers felicitie but now the end of the warre is the begining of his beggery and an almes is the best recompence for the best desert When Glorie was the reward of Vertue men would then contend who should most excéede in Vertue but now sithence that hope hath bene quenched they sâ—riue who should be most insolent for where Glorie is taken from Vertue there Vertue is likewise taken from men Pill There is yet a comfort left to those that haue honestlie serued the Countrie when they may say that there best recompence is the testimony of a good conscience and the contentment of an honest minde Skill The testimonie of a good conscience is better then a thousand witnesses and he that hath a contented minde hath greater treasure then Fortune is able to depriue for what aduersitie can check him that is armed with contentment Pill Contentment is the marke we all shoote at but who could euer hit it Salomon sought seriously after it but he could not finde it the wise men of the world haue hunted after it in the world and although they haue sometimes had it in chase baiting themselues with a present satisfaction for a time yet our affections are so variable that more changeable then the Moone we erect euerie day a new choyee loathing that to morrow that we liked of to day Skill Where then shall we séeke for that soueraigne contentment by vs so much desired if not in this world why then by a fract more excellent and diuine then Reason it selfe is able to reach vnto Pill There are yet many reasons whereby to maintaine that soueraigntie of contentment which to those that are earthly minded may séeme vnpleasant but to a soule once setled in contemplation they are the ministers of méere Diuinitie Skill Who liueth heere in that content liues happilie for he sequesters his wandering thoughts from the vanitie eâ— the world and so tampers all his spirits that he wholie resignes himselfe to meditation O precious freedome of the minde that thus funes his fancies on the Lydian Harpeâ— he may with Theseus take hold on the Clue that leadeth from the Babyâ—inth of worldly vanities for he so frees himselfe from the sreakes of fortune that as the seaman with his Iacobs staffe doth count the ascending and descending of the Sunne so he beholds al the choaking chances of the ambitious world sometimes climing vp againe declining downe If his meanes will not serue to mount so he cannot lightly fall for Flatterie caÌ„not blast him with his breath nor Aspolike Enuie flinges him not asléepe héere the Traitors armed hand affrightes him not nor Sinon sugered teares are able to deceiue but Magnitude with a perfect courage of a constant minde attends and waites on him and thus retirde from all his worldly cares he reapes the fruite of swéete and quiet rest Pill O happie he that leuels out his life by this line for a soule thus armed with this coate-armour is able to wade through al the strreames of trouble firing his anker hope in the inuiolate constancie of a minde thus setled what can dismay or affright him Death it selfe is héere despised and although the verie name be bidrous and terrible to fooles beating in the eares of the idle and slouthfull yee heere it cannot hurt But what obiect I Death or why should I speake of a buriall shall we doubt of that which is naturall and for the which we were borne O how vnfortunate might he be accouÌ„sed that is loath to returne to his countrie of rest Skill Then to winde vp our conclusion and to make an end of our conference at this time I will speake a little of life and death as they should be esteemed for if we could dulie consider of the good that coÌ„meth vnto vs by death it would appeare that the whole Tragedie of the euils of this life is there finished and that the sting of Death is but the beginning of life Pill Your conclusion wil be both apt and to a very good purpose but first I will conclude with many thankes for this your vndeserued curtesie and because I will not longer interrupt you I will now rest attentiue Skill Since life is the race wherein we striue to obtaine honour and death is the tearme whereby our honours are crowned I will speake of life as it should be confirmed to vertue and of death as the true gate of felicitie Life saieth the Philosopher is but a borrowed dreame of pleasure wherein we apprchend all things incertainly by reason of the swist and irrecouerable chaunges thereof It is a race wherein the wicked man seeketh to ouerthrowe the good and the good man that standeth on his feete will not helpe the good man that fieth on the ground It is a vision of delight that vanisheth in imagination a warfare of vncertaintie and a way to death In life there is no distinction either of greatnes or abiectnes for the begger in life hath as great interest as the King It is only the way wherein we walk crowned with honour to our graue or buried w t infamies to séeke out eternall death Wretched is that life which hath but a time to liue and that in death a life without the which death had not béene Briefly to expresse how abiect a thing life is let that saying of Philip of Macedon serue to confirme y â— same who finding a fit place to incampe in but vnfit to allowe his beasts of burthen any â—other How miserable saith he is our life who are inforced to bestow the best opportunities of the same to the seruice of Asses It is like a Pageant or Stage whereon all sortes shew theÌ„selues that chalengeth nothing froÌ„ eternitie but the fruits of good imploimeÌ„ts The hazard of life is determined by y â— iustice of y â— cause it is neuer more happy theÌ„ wheÌ„ lost worthily The shortnesse thereof is redeemed by the vse for Life well imploied is a preuention of Death As for Death what is it but a blessed necessitie to the good man and a fearefull enemie to the euill There is nothing more certaine to flesh blood theÌ„ Death nothing more fearful to fooles then to thinke they must die when it is but a passage to a better life And how happy is that death which leadeth to that life which is not subiect to death It is a seperation from an vncertaine to an assured estate a retrail wherein Honour liueth and obscuritie sléepeth A Harbinger assigning rest without payment A Gate to that felicitie the soule longeth for For which cause Aeschilus calleth it the remedy of worldly sorrow wherein we escape that which life feared and winne that which a quickning faith hopeth for Since therefore Life is but a sum of money put out to vse and our iudgements and honours are assigned vs as we imploy the same death is but the fire to try our deseris whether they were born to obscuritie or reserued for eternitie let Souldiers liue so as when the casualties of warre shall allot them death they may be held good stewards of this betrusted and vncertain treasure that like good children being nourished in all dutie by their mother the Common-wealth they may dye with coÌ„stancy in the defence therof that as earst the Spartan womeÌ„ so their mothers may say in their deaths We bare them for their country and we haue happily lost them for their country Or rather thus with Critias He rather pleaseth me more that he died a death both worthy his friends and country theÌ„ that he should haue liued a life vnworthy both his friends and country